First Batch of Training and Certification Program for ESCOs, Building Developers and Architects Under the ALCBT Project in India

New Delhi, India, January 27 & 28, 2025 –The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) concluded the first batch of training and certification program for architects, ESCOs, and building developers under the Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) project in New Delhi. The program aimed to strengthen technical knowledge on the design, construction, operation and financing of low carbon buildings and its impact on carbon emissions among professionals in India’s building sector. The ALCBT project is being implemented in India under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

The two-day training and certification program equipped participants with key knowledge and expertise in net-zero buildings, low-carbon building standards, technologies, and sustainable practices. Special emphasis was placed on operational and embodied emissions, which contribute to more than 21% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings (IPPC sixth Assessment Report).

The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Shailesh Agrawal, Executive Director, Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), (MoHUA); Mr. Soumya Garnaik, Country Representative, GGGI India; Mr. KS Venkatagiri, Principal Counsellor, CII; Ms. Julie Robles, Project Manager, ALCBT Project, GGGI; Ms. Sheetal Tuteja, Chairperson, CII – Indian Green Building Council (IGBC); and Mr. Sanjay Varshney CII-IGBC. They shared valuable insights on India’s growing construction sector and the role of low-carbon building initiatives.

Over fifty participants,from the buildings ecosystem took part in the interactive training session delivered by senior counsellors from the IGBC, CII – namely Ms. Sri Rekha M, CII Ms. Priyadarshni Puranam, and Dr. Shivraj Dhaka. They delved into topics such as – building envelope and energy consumption, adaptive thermal comfort design strategies, sustainable cooling technologies, building energy codes and regulations, the tools for planning & designing of low carbon buildings, building materials and waste management, operational and embodied carbon emissions, water conservation, and global case stories.

 In India, capacity building efforts will benefit over 2,120 individuals, including government officials, architects, engineers, building developers and owners, ESCOs, financial institutions, material manufactures, and technology providers, to promote low carbon building design  and sustainable practices.

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About ALCBT Project

The Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project seeks to significantly reduce GHG emissions by catalyzing nationwide transitions towards low carbon buildings in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Funded by the Government of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the project is implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and HEAT International. In India, the project operates under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Capacity building efforts in the country will benefit over 2,120 individuals, including government officials, architects, engineers, building developers and owners, ESCOs, financial institutions, material manufactures, and technology providers, to promote low carbon building design  and sustainable practices. Learn more about project activities in India here. 

About GGGI

 The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 49 Member States and 29 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 51 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.   In India, GGGI has been operational since 2018, and has been operations in more than 10 states in India.

About CII

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, with around 9,000 members from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 365,000 enterprises from 294 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.

For more than 125 years, CII has been engaged in shaping India’s development journey and works proactively on transforming Indian Industry’s engagement in national development. CII charts change by working closely with Government on policy issues, interfacing with thought leaders, and enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and business opportunities for industry through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages. It also provides a platform for consensus-building and networking on key issues.

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org and https://alcbt.gggi.org